HMAS VOYAGER, with HMS DECOY, (destroyers), engaged the surfaced Italian submarine FOCA, which was laying mines, with gunfire off Alexandria. The submarine submerged, and VOYAGER, (CMDR Morrow), dropped depth charges ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 12 June 1940
The crew of the Italian liner ROMOLO, scuttled their ship west of Nauru, after a long pursuit by HMAS MANOORA, (armed merchant cruiser). MANOORA picked up the survivors from their ...
Australian Naval History on 11 June 1940
HMAS Sydney, with cruisers of the 7th Cruiser Squadron HMS Orion, HMS Neptune, HMS Gloucester and HMS Liverpool, departed Alexandria at 1.00am for a sweep after Italy declared war the ...
Australian Naval History on 10 June 1940
Italy entered the war on the side of Germany. An officer in HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), at the time of the announcement commented, ‘The news came like the proverbial bomb in ...
Australian Naval History on 9 June 1940
LEUT G. L. Fowle, RAN, commanded the former Dutch schuyt HMS DOGGER BANK, in the evacuation of troops from Cherbourg and St Malo. He later brought out civilians from the ...
Australian Naval History on 4 June 1940
LEUT R. J. Robertson, RAN, was awarded the DSC and MID for conspicuous gallantry while serving in HMS MALCOLM, (destroyer), at the evacuation of Dunkirk, and in operations off the ...
Australian Naval History on 3 June 1940
HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), commenced a long refit at Malta. During this time her ships company were loaned to the Army, and became part of the force ready to repel a ...
Australian Naval History on 31 May 1940
Convoy US3, escorted by HMA Ships CANBERRA and AUSTRALIA, (cruisers), headed north from Cape Town. ...
Australian Naval History on 27 May 1940
The 19th Destroyer Division (Stuart (I), Vampire, Voyager (I), Vendetta (I) and Waterhen (I)) and the 20th Destroyer Division (HM Ships Dainty, Diamond, Decoy and Defender) combined to form the ...
Australian Naval History on 26 May 1940
The cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. A. Collins, RAN), joined the 7th Cruiser Squadron operating in the Mediterranean. LEUT F. N. Cook, RAN, was rescued from the sea off Narvik, ...
Australian Naval History on 22 May 1940
The cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. A. Collins, RAN), arrived at Aden, en-route to the Mediterranean. During the ship’s passage from Sydney, she had struck, and cut in half, a ...
Australian Naval History on 21 May 1940
The Australian Government approved the building of the Captain Cook Graving Dock between Potts Point and Garden Island Navy Base, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 May 1940
HMS SHROPSHIRE, (cruiser), relieved HMAS CANBERRA, (cruiser), as escort for troop convoy US3, in the Indian Ocean. SHROPSHIRE was commissioned into the RAN as a replacement for CANBERRA in 1943. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 May 1940
The Australian War Cabinet accepted the Admiralty offer of HMS CERES and HMS COLOMBO, (cruisers), for service in Australian waters. The decision was reversed a week later. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 May 1940
HMA Ships CANBERRA and AUSTRALIA, (cruisers), were escorting convoy US3, when about halfway between Fremantle and Colombo, The British Admiralty ordered it alter course for Britain via the Cape Town. ...
Australian Naval History on 12 May 1940
Australian Troop Convoy US.2 was met off Aden on the 12th by HMAS Hobart and destroyers HMS Decoy and HMS Defender. HMAS Sydney departed Colombo to join convoy US.3 in ...
Australian Naval History on 9 May 1940
PO Augustus Joseph Fisher, RAN , SN 14400, was awarded the DSM for daring, endurance, and resource, while serving in HM Submarine TRUANT. Fifteen months later he was MID for ...
Australian Naval History on 7 May 1940
Destroyers Vendetta, Voyager, Waterhen departed Malta as escorts for HMS Warspite. They arrivd at Alexandria on the 10th ...
Australian Naval History on 5 May 1940
Australian troop convoy US3, consisting of liners QUEEN MARY, AQUITANIA, EMPRESS OF JAPAN, EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, MAURETANIA, and ANDES, escorted by HMA Ships CANBERRA and PERTH, and HMS LEANDER, sailed ...
Australian Naval History on 4 May 1940
HMAS KANGAROO, (boom defence vessel), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 May 1940
ANZAC troop convoy US.3 departed Wellington with troopships Aquitania (45,647grt), Empress of Britain (42,348grt), and Empress of Japan (26,032grt), escorted by HMAS Australia and HMNZS Leander. ...
Australian Naval History on 25 April 1940
HMAS Sydney steamed around convoy US.2 flying the signal ”RAN congratulates AIF on ANZAC Day ...
Australian Naval History on 24 April 1940
The Cunard liner QUEEN MARY commenced conversion to a troop ship at Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 22 April 1940
Troop convoy US.2, with 5 troopships, left Fremantle, escorted by HMAS Sydney and HMS ships Ramillies ...
Australian Naval History on 21 April 1940
HMAS Adelaide left convoy US.2 after being part of escort with HMS Ramilies from Melbourne to Fremantle ...